The new iPhone 4S will now be available to customers who don't want to lock into a major cell service provider's two-year contract.

Owning an iPhone just became more realistic for those whose reluctance to lock into an expensive contract has stuck them with a dinosaur phone.

Leap Wireless International, the parent company of Cricket Wireless, announced Thursday it will offer the nation's first widespread prepaid iPhone plan. Open Mobile launched limited prepaid service to Puerto Rico earlier this month.

The plan includes limitless calls, text and data on the iPhone 4 or 4S for $55 per month, with no contract. It will launch June 22.

"Here, you get the tech you want without having to pay the huge price tag every month," Igel said.

iPhone service won't be available in every market within Cricket's nationwide network, but Portland is among the launch sites.

The downside: While the plan is cheaper, gone are the drastic subsidies on the cost of the iPhone that phone companies use as incentive to sign a contract. Through Cricket's plan, customers will pay $400 outright for an iPhone 4 and $500 for an iPhone 4S.